A Castrovel Adventure: Part 4, Chapter 28

In which Vaeol, with Taiase’s help, seeks to connect outward to the greater world.

From the Daylog of Vaeol-Zheieveil Yaranevae be’Son

14. Vealae, 24,544 - 19th Day Northbound with Clan Miniada
On our second day retaking the way, scouts raced inward, warning a troop afterhunted, but who bore Son’s flag. Wryly I beheld Lady Loemi again come with Lea riders, though now without Lady Iman. She trucesomely rode northward with us until we camped and rightly yielded guesthood. That eve, we gathered at Lady Vei’s tent, where Lady Loemi beheld my new son. Grinningly she kissed my shrinking belly and outquoth that Son is upheld by this new soul born of a proud mother.
She then said that, at Her Highness Lady Zhaene’s behest, she boded word from Son, and from none else than from Her Highness Lady-Mother. I shrive I had foreguessed this outcome and yieldingly asked the wordbode. Lady Loemi thus told Her Highness my mother’s word.
Four days earlier, my mother had been weirdly stricken while amoot with our City’s matrons, in which my outshow, in great want and hurt, had overtaken her. Straightway she had outsought my welfare, knowing I was late bechild, and had sent farseer-word to Lady Zhaene in Lea. Lady Loemi, who had right come back from her fetch to us at the Miniada’s Heaventide campstead, had then outheaded back and hither. She also bore a leafwrit from Lady Semuane, which showed almost a book and had reached Lea in answer to the writ we had yesteryear sent. I shall love to read it and tell her deeds to our house.
I thanked Lady Loemi for this wordbode. Yet she added she also bore selfsome word from Her Highness Lady Zhaene. When I asked Her Highness’s word, Lady Loemi spoke thus: ~O’limi mae-mei~ - “Speak with your mother.” Then she bowed and said nothing further.
Since then, those words have weighed me, even while I suckle my babe, and even while I write this (after Kaure again thieved my dear little man). I cannot naysay that, in my harshest need-tide, my mind fled straight to my mother. Maybe I owe her a reckonship, though I still rankle her misdeed.

15. Vealae, 24,544 - 20th Day Northbound
This morn, Lady Loemi again left for Lea while the Clan packed camp. She bodes back word that I have healthily born a son. Soon as she reaches Lea, I misdoubt farseer-word will fly to Son.
Today while awagon (my split hips still cannot forbear the saddle’s shock), I spoke with Lady Taiase, who yaysaid to help me try something. Thus this evetide after campset, we sat outside under a mild mistfall, with my babe upon my thighs to add his soulmight, and clasped hands while we sang atune. I had erenever tried such a long farseer-word. Yet Taiase believed she could boost my mind-call.
Even so trucesome as I felt, still I could not will to outreach my mother straightly. Also, it was easier to merely seek Son’s farseer-beacon, and so reached Master Saemuss, who was sitting watch, and sent this farseer-word:

~Zhasael-Mazereirru be Vaeol-Zheieveil: Shiaftaf uthastra naeshastra. Ollafa oe zeshafa Kiezarru. O’shiafi sere kovadaf.~
“To Lady-Matron Zhasael from Lady-Outrider Vaeol: I have born a healthy son. We are well and faring to the Clanmoot. At my birthtide I felt you.”

Thus was all I could say ere my boldness lost. When we got Master Saemuss’s acknowledge, we wondered whether we might get soon answer, though here beaconless on the moor and unwell-known, that would be a worthy knack. So I thought to try something else and again beseeched Taiase’s help. This time, I outreached straight to my goal’s mind:

~A Dida, vi uthas haras ollas. Antafe shi shoe mi loae, o’si eiesassi. Ithaef satra kiassastra. Oeo’sei lastra realf.~
“Dad, I have a son. He is strong and good. I am full of love and selflessness, and think of you. I would behold you meeting him, and will name him after you.”

...Although I got answer, it had no words, but only utter, unspeakable feeling of a weeping man overwhelmed, at which Taiase and I fell overcome.
And so I have chosen my son’s name. Though Taiase and I were well weary, at duskmeal I called our house and bade Oshis stand before. Then I laid his youngest, sleeping son in his brawny arms and kissed my fathermate’s brow. ~Realya-shyaelf Aeoseltra~ I spoke: “I will name him Aeosel.” In answer, Oshis bowed and kissed our son. Then his mighty arms raised him overhead, and my manlove yelled so proudly that we all laughed, and the Shotalashu prowling the camp’s edge howled daringly.

17. Vealae, 24,544 - 22nd Day Northbound
Yesterday I must shrive a selfishness, though frankly none would gainsay so soon after birthtide. Misclaiming weakness, I rode in the wagon, and while my little Aeosel suckled, bade Vosaeth, Remaue, and Kaure ride near. Then I read Semuane’s leafwrit and broadcast her words, which begot no few grins, sly chuckles, and sighs. We gladly read that she is well. Ereward, she had gone afetch to Lost Hoshiasa, hosting lorewardens to the Worldgate, though lately she is bidden to the hinterland’s mean scoutfare. She gave short word that she has found a lady’s goodwill, though she added no whits, which makes us hopeful that maybe she has found love, forwhy we would not behold her alone. She asked of my bechildness and Vosaeth’s babe, and wished us blessed health.
Yesternight after duskmeal, I read aloud those doles from Semuane’s leafwrit fit to share openly. Lady Vei asked the writer, whomof I reminded her my tale of the Qabarat outrider I had beaten at weapon-trial and had afterward become maidenloves, and whomwith her daughter Vosaeth, Istae, and I had together fought and loved in Valmaeyana. Here she smiled and wryly added that such is the best wise to end a feud. I guess she wistfully reckoned that no such forehap looks likely in our war with the Zhihuafa and Lady Byreath.
To Oshis I gave Semuane’s sundry rede that he must not grow overswollen (a twofold meaning!) with his wife-harem but must show right thankfulness to all his mothermates, and shall better overall become a deft napkin-wrapper. This got all laughter, and when he rather whinily gainsaid he wearies of changing moss-napkins, we upcame to find every napkin and moss-scrap we could and throw them at him. His older children proved eager allies in this warfare, until wicked Less tossed a filthy one at his head. Then Oshis hunted him threateningly over the camp while his friend hooted merrily, like Shotaviras thieving teatworts in the old children’s tale.

18. Vealae, 24,544 - 23rd Day Northbound
This evetide, again with Taiase’s and my son’s help, I tried another farseer-word to Semuane, to tell her thus:

~Semuane-Zheieveirru Zhilisaeauerru, be Vaeol-Zheieveil Yaranevae be’Son: Naztaf zhassahora. O’illi kiaes utha-vastra, yio’vi-yei sere shoalyelyas.~
“To Lady-Outrider Semuane Zhilisaeaue, from Lady Vaeol Yaranevae of Son: We got your leaf-writ. You must meet my son, for I would have him love you as I do.”

...Misluckily, we did not reach her straightly. Instead, we got Qabarat's farseer-beacon, along with a sharp dare back from the watch-seer bidding why we used a dwimmer foreheld for city business (there is behoof in all Son knowing me, which is not true in Qabarat). Whether they will bode her the word I know not. Yet so I hope, and so told Vosaeth and the others.

Lashunta Terms & Phrases:

• ~O'limi~ - speak
• ~Mae~ - mother
• ~Mazere~ - matron; elected ruler to a city's assembly
• ~Mazereil~ - Lady-Matron. An honorific address
• ~Zheieve~ - Outrider; knight
• ~Zheieveil~ - Lady-Outrider. An honorific address
• ~Kieza~ - Clanmoot
• ~Dida~ - Daddy. A familiar term of endearment.